The Stagger Lee shooting in 1895 became a notorious event in American folklore, involving Lee Shelton and Billy Lyons in a St. Louis bar. The altercation over a hat escalated into a fatal shooting, capturing public attention and inspiring numerous songs and stories. This incident reflected the cultural tensions of the time and contributed to the mythos surrounding Stagger Lee in American music and literature.

The Stagger Lee shooting in 1895 became legendary in 'Stagger Lee' ballads and blues songs, influencing African American poetic traditions and rock/folk narratives of outlaw violence. Poets like Gwendolyn Brooks and Amiri Baraka drew on this cultural narrative to explore themes of identity and resistance.